Former Sheshatshiu chief facing charges

Former Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation chief Andrew Penashue is facing nine charges, some of which are related to an alleged illegal gambling house. - -File photo

HAPPY VALLEY-GOOSE BAY, N.L.

A former chief of the Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation has been charged in relation to an alleged illegal gaming house the RCMP shut down in the community on Sept. 28.

According to court documents obtained by The Labradorian, Andrew Penashue is facing nine charges, including illegally operating a gaming house, operating video lottery terminals (VLT) without permission of the Atlantic Lottery Corporation, and three weapons related charges. Four of the charges are under the Criminal Code, four are under the Lotteries Act and one is a violation of the Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation bylaw against video lottery terminals on the reserve.

Penashue, a board member of the Innu Nation council, could face fines as a result of the Lotteries Act charges and potential jail time for the charge of illegally operating a gaming house.

According to a RCMP release, police executed a search warrant on a property in the community following an investigation into reports they had received.

Cpl. Rick Mills with the Happy Valley-Goose Bay detachment told The Labradorian at the time they seized 11 VLTs, an automated teller machine (ATM) and other related items.

None of the charges have been proven in court. Penashue’s first appearance in these matters is scheduled for Feb. 4.